'Horses' or 'Ponies'?

H

Housemouse

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 March 2010
Messages
179
Visit site
Some competitors seem to get away with competing oversize 'horses' in pony classes - ie: 15hh horses competing in 14.2 classes.

How does this work in affiliated competitions? And what if these 'ponies' are winning?

Aren't height limits set for a reason?
 
They get a height certificate, over a certain age they can get a life-time one, think its 7? You get some cruel practices to ensure they are under height.
 
My 14.2 looks easily a hand bigger than she is. I had her measured years ago just relaxed & no shoes, but as she has very little withers & in her prime had a great topline, combined with the way she carries herself she looks loads bigger. I've never done more than local showing but I have heard of extreme tactics to get them to measure in. In showjumping its usually juniors only in ponies classes, both unaffiliated & affiliated. Same for a lot of show classes too.
 
Never seen anyone check heights or passports at any unaffiliated or pony club show or competition other than riding club qualifier daughter has done......some ponies she's competed against are a good 6 inches taller than her (measured by the vet at just over 14h)pony, but that doesn't mean to say she can't beat them (sometimes), smaller ponies can turn better and do pony strides when fences have been built for ponies rather than horses.
 
Ponies can be deceptive... Al had a mare who was 14.2hh (measured at 147.8cm!). Because she was quite long and had a big stride (and big jump!) and flat withers, and was a proper little horse rather than a pony. It was hard to believe she was only 14.2hh until you actually lined up other horses who did make her look smaller. If you watched her, you'd have put her at 15hh+
 
I've never done more than local showing but I have heard of extreme tactics to get them to measure in.
g.gif
 
The yellow pony measures 14.2 but has very flat withers so his back is practicly the same height, he's also long so has a horse sized body on pony legs. That and I'm sure he used to grow a bit at shows, not so much now though as he is a lot more experianced and not bothered by the whole thing.
 
Some ponies and horses do look and ride much bigger than you'd expect. A wide sprung pony will take a large adult rider with no problem provided they've got the bone and if they're upheaded they can often look much bigger.

My welsh cob and my pb arab are the same height on paper. The welsh cob was so wide sprung and so broad that she made me look tiny on her. My pb arab I can mount from the ground, the Welsh D - no danger. Not even close!
 
Working Hunter Ponies go up to 15hh. Also, CHAPS regard a plaited 15hh as a pony. I'm assuming this is to match with the 15hh WHP.
So, an unscrupulous person, might get a 15.2, 'measured in' as 15hh and still be classed as a pony for certain classes.

On a personal note, I have a 14.2 native coloured (Dales Type) with no withers and a flat back. She is definately 14.2, but put her next to a 14.2 pony with withers and a curve to it's spine, she looks a hand higher. Then put me on top - I'm 5'9 and her barrel takes up my leg length quite adequately.
 
For affiliated comps, ponies have to have a height cert. There's 'ways' of getting ponies to measure under I believe. At the end of the day once they have their height cert, I cant imagine there's much arguement.
 
My 13.2hh fell pony looks lots bigger, no one ever believes me. Even at dressage length my feet don't clear her belly and I'm 5ft 5ins as she is built like a brick outhouse. The vet measured her, the farrier did and the dentist too, she has a lot of presence which I think gives her a hand or two at times.
Since having her I have stopped guessing heights by eye as they can be very deceptive. I do dislike the way people try and force things to be smaller when measured, cheating is cheating after all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top